Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-14
ATCHISON SOLVENT.
The Other Side of the Case "A Letter From
Gov. Martin.


STATE OF KANSAS,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Topeka, Ks, July IL. J
William Henry Smith, General Manager
Associated Press:
MY DEAR SIR: On the I'd of July inst t,
special dispatch was sent from st.
Joseph, NO., to Chicago paper, in which
it was stated that ''the closing Of the sa-
looms in Atchison, Kansas, has cut of the
most profitable source OF revenue, amount
ing TO thousands of dollars year, and as q
result the city has not revenue to keep go
ing" that the police force, with the e1cep-
tion of the Marshal and the policeman,
had been suspended; that the services
of the firemen were to be dispensed with,
and that the gas and electric lights were to
be shut of. This dispatch was utilized by
the associated press and published in all
parts of the country. As result / have
received many letters from different sec
tions making inquiry as to the truth Of the
statement it embodied and have seen its
alleged facts commented on in dozens Of
newspapers as evidence that the abolition
of saloons has reduced prosperous city in
Kanzas to the verge OF bankruptcy. Similar
letters have been received by the mayor OF
Atchison, and by many other cities OF
Kansas.
The dispatch referred 10 was prompted
by two motives. 1t was, first, sent from
q town in Missouri, for the purpose Of in
juring rival city in Kansas; second it
was inspired by the whisky interests, and
intended to create the impression that an
efficient city government could not be
maintained without the revenue derived
from saloon licenses. The city oi Atchi-
son has been for many years, one OF the
most important railroad and commercial
centres Of Kansas. II the whisky interest
could create the impression that Atchison
had been materially injured because the
saloons had been driven out Of it, a seri-
Gus blow would be dealt the temperance
cause. The Associated Press, in giving
this false special such wide publicity, was
made the unconscious agent of a malicious
slander, whose purposes were as unworthy
rs his statements were unfounded.
deem it my duty to correct the false im-
preston thus created and respectfully ask
that this letter be given as wide publi-
cation ~ the dispatch prompts it.
am thoroughly familiar with the condi-
tion of the city Of Atchison, and personally
know that the statements embodied in the
st. Joseph dispatches are false and mis-
Leading The gas, electric lights and wa
ter supply of the city have never been
turned of. Its fire department has been
and is continuously on duty. Its police
force has been largely reduced, but has, in
the absence of the saloons, been ample 10
preserve the peace and protect the property
of the citizens. A dispute concerning
taxation and involving the adoption Of q
tax which has been collected in the city Of
St. Joseph for many years past, is the only
foundation for the malicious and untrutb.
ful despatch from that place.
Atchison abolished the last of its sa-
looms in the fall of 1886. The whisky in
terests said this action would seriously in
jure the business of the city. 1t has had
no such effect Atchison is more prosper.
ous to-day, than il has been for many
years past. Its wholesale trade aggregs-
ted nearly forty million dollars in 1886,
and during the first six months of 1887,
this trade has increased nearly thirty
three per cent over that for the correspond
ing six months of 1886. Better than all,
hundreds of thousands Of dollars, that
were formerly wasted in saloons. are now
expended in feeding, and clothing and
housing the people, and, as result, thous-
ands of wives and children in Atchison, who
were living III poverty few years ago are
now prosperous, happy and conten.ed.
Summing up the facts Of the census OF
those cities cOniute and confound those
who assert that the material prosperity of
any community is promoted by the pres
ence of saloons. SO far "a Kansas, and all
other cities and towns are concerned, the
reverse of this assertion il true. The most
wonderful era of prosperity, Of material,
moral and intellectual development Of
growth IN country, cities and towns, ever
witnessed on the American continent, has
been illustrated in Kansas during the six
years since the temperance amendment 10
our constitution was adopted, and especial
ly during the past two years, the period OF
its most complete endorsements.
Yours very respectfully,
JOHN A. MARTIN.